Waiheke’s unique location
A unique opportunity
Waiheke Island is surrounded by predator free islands in Tīkapa Moana – the Hauraki Gulf, so has the opportunity to become a haven for native birds and wildlife. There are already over one hundred predator free islands in New Zealand. Nature has an incredible ability to repair itself - when a place is freed from predators, native wildlife can truly flourish.
Once Waiheke Island is predator free, sea and land birds will have the opportunity to migrate from other predator free islands. Tīkapa Moana is often referred to as a seabird “super-highway”. The small populations of ōi (grey-faced petrel) along with seabird breeding colonies on a number of islands around Waiheke are indicators of the island’s potential as a home for seabirds.
Occasional visits from red-crowned kākāriki from nearby islands are an example of Waiheke’s potential for new land bird species to establish.
